Robert Spencer,

Extension Specialist

More of this

And more of this Less of this

DISCLAIMER

• When it comes to farming there is preventative maintenance & reactive maintenance, both are management choices

• Information comes in various forms: research, reality, internet, perceptions, and hearsay

• Each of us must decide what works best for our situation

JUST A LITTLE BIT GROWS INTO ISSUES

• Animals become sick from initial exposure to small

quantities of bacteria, viruses, or parasites

• Animals can not communicate feelings

• Missed indicators or lack of attention leads to

complications

• Animals health is compromised, problems and expenses

begin

Backyard biosecurity means doing everything you can to

protect your animals from diseases

OPPORTUNITIES

• What kind of resources are needed?

• Will this be a full-time or part-time endeavor?

• Do I expect this to be profitable or hobby?

• Recognize hybrid vigor makes for hardy animals

• Raising healthy livestock on small acreages can become a family project

Develop a better understanding of issues and develop plans to insure healthy, productive

animals

BEFORE YOU BUY THE FIRST ANIMAL

• How much space do I have?

• What are my financial constraints?

• What type of animals interest me?

• What do I know about production of ____?

• Where can I find more information?

• Which veterinarian will I work with?

• How will I dispose of manure & dead animals?

• How close are my neighbors, will they object, and do they have animals?

• What is my exit plan?

SPACE REQUIREMENTS

• One animal unit per two acres

• Rabbits – 1.5’x1.5’x2’

• Chickens - 1.5’x1.5’x2’

• Goats & Sheep

– Housing – 3’x6’

– Grazing – 3-4/acre

• Cattle

– Housing – shade

– Grazing – 1 per 2 acres

PURPOSE & BREEDS: Goats & Sheep

• Meat, dairy, fiber, or maintenance? • Goats

– Meat – Boer, Kiko, Savannah, Spanish & etc. • Small – Pygmy, Brush

– Dairy – Alpine, Sannen, La Mancha, & etc. • Small - Nigerian Dwarf, Pygmy

– Fiber – Angora & etc.

• Sheep – Meat – Katahdin, Dorper, St. Croix, & etc. – Dairy – East Friesian, Lacaune, and etc. – Fiber – Merino, Corriedale, and etc.

• Small - Cheviots, Babydoll, and etc.

PURPOSES & BREEDS: Rabbits & Poultry

• Rabbits

– Meat – New Zealand, Californian, Harlequin & etc.

– Fiber – Angora and etc.

– Smaller – Dutch, Rex, English Spot & etc.

• Poultry

– Egg layers – Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rock, Cuckoo Maran, and etc.

– Smaller – Silkies, Polish Top Hats, and etc.

ANIMAL FRIENDLY URBAN SPACES

• Minimize noise stress – Animals are like people, they can tolerate some

noise stress, but not continuous and/or loud

• Maintain clean living quarters and grounds – They need clean living and grazing environments

to maintain a healthy living status

• Provide relevant/adequate nutrition – They need adequate nutrition to maintain good

body condition and a healthy immune system

NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS Nutrient needs for animals includes: water, protein, fat,

minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and etc.

Example of protein ranges:

• Goats – 10-16%

• Sheep – 8-14%

• Cattle – 8-14%

• Poultry –15-18%

• Rabbits – 12-17%

Never underestimate the importance of water, fat, and minerals (copper & selenium)

GENERAL HEALTH CONCERNS

• Failure to develop a working relationship with veterinarian

• Inadequate nutrition - failure to meet nutrient needs & provide minerals

• Internal (gastrointestinal)& external parasites - stomach worms, coccidian, lice or mites

• Respiratory distress - dust or vapors from excessive build-up of urine and wet manure

SPECIFIC HEALTH ISSUES Young are most vulnerable

• Goats & Sheep

– stomach worms, coccidiosis, lice. pinkeye & sore mouth

• Rabbits

– coccidiosis, sore hocks, pinkeye, enteritis

• Poultry

– Stomach worms, coccidiosis, cannibalism, lice/mites, rodents

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE

• Education

• Nutrition

• Sanitation

• Biosecurity

• Ventilation

• Sunshine

• Ideal animal welfare

• Learn what works for others, keep up with developments

• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is

• There are no magic pills

ALL-NATURAL PRACTICES

• Sunshine – Lots of sunshine, with access to shade

• Fresh air – Lots of fresh air with shelter from adverse weather

• Lime – Spread lime (powder) as needed in loafing areas & where urine and manure accumulate

• ACV - Maintain small percentage of apple cider vinegar in water vessels

• Sanitation - Clean feeders and water vessels as needed

PROACTIVE STRATEGIES

• Never assume anything

• Develop a working relationship with a vet

• Learn about varying nutrient requirements of your animals

• Learn about benefits of minerals

• Learn relevant signs of unhealthy animals

• Learn how to do fecal-egg counts and FAMACHA

• Develop a health management program, monitor, and adjust as needed

PRACTICALITY • Preventative strategies tend to be less

expensive in the long-run

• Cull animals with continuous health problems

• Nutrition, minerals, sanitation, and biosecurity are essential to animal health

• Vaccinate for appropriate disease concerns

• Treat specific illness/disease, not shotgun approach

• Ask yourself, is it necessary and is it working?

BMPs

• Find vet that is knowledgeable, or willing to learn and work with you

• Do not allow excessive accumulation of manure, urine, or moisture; use gravel as base where appropriate

• Clean out barn, cages, living quarters as needed

• Spread lime between and after cleanings

• Rotate grazing areas and housing (small animals) where possible/appropriate

BIOSECURITY

• Set aside a separate area that can accommodate new or sick animals

• Isolate new or sick animals (ASAP), 30 days

• Minimize outside vehicle, animal, and human traffic on your farm

• Have a set of shoes for farm visits and another set for your farm, offer/use shoe covers

• Wash clothes in between farm visits

• Set up shoe baths where appropriate

FOOD SAFETY & ANIMAL WELFARE

More than likely your animals or their byproducts are destined to be a food product

• Follow guidelines' regarding medicinal withdrawal times on meat, dairy, and poultry

• Learn, implement, and validate best management strategies and practices

• Keep health & reproduction records

• Treat animals humanely and learn animal behavior

BIOSECURITY TIPS • Restrict access to your livestock enclosure/areas or housing

and animals. • New animals should be kept separate from your herd/flock for

at least 30 days prior to putting them with the rest of your livestock.

• Keep a pair of farm shoes and outerwear on hand that you wear only around your farm.

• Install a foot bath step pan with disinfectant and a hand washing station at the entrance to every area.

• Inspect your animals for signs of parasites and take appropriate action immediately.

• Tools such as feed scoops, shovels, rakes, and brooms must be cleaned with soap and water, then disinfected before and after you use them.

• Dead animals should be quickly and properly disposed by burial, composting or incineration.

RESOURCES

• The Merck Veterinary Manual

• Extension Offices

• Outreach and association meetings

• Newsletters

• Internet

• Other producers

• Books and magazines

Alabama Cooperative Extension System Websites

www.aces.edu

http://www.aces.edu/extcomm/publications/docs/indexes/unpas.php

Rabbits & Small Ruminants

• There a lots of websites out there with quality information, and some with misinformation

FINAL WORDS

• Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, learn from them

• It is cheaper to learn from other’s mistakes

• By practicing backyard prevention & biosecurity, you can maintain healthy animals and enjoy a quality of life

Contact information

• Robert Spencer

• Alabama Cooperative Extension System

– www.aces.edu

• 256-766-6223

• rds0002@aces.edu

Copy of Presentation

• https://www.dropbox.com/s/8td90zdmgx9ybuk/Presentation%20for%20SAWG%20Conference.pdf